Butterfly Effect

"Butterfly Effect" refers to the scientific theory that the flapping of a butterfly´s wings in Beijing might cause a tornado in New York next month. The theory, which U.S. meteorologist Edward Lorentz devised in 1961 while trying to forecast the weather, planted the seed for chaos theory. According to Lorentz, weather is difficult to predict since tiny differences in weather conditions show dramatic differences which are unpredictable.

When Lorentz explained this theory first, the word "seagull" was used. But the seagull was changed into the more poetic butterfly later. This virtual phenomenon encapsulates the notion of "sensitive dependence on initial conditions" which can´t be explained by classical physics.

* Think & Talk!

Q. What's the "butterfly effect"?

Explain the effect using any example.

A: ________________________________

Secret Government File Tells of UFOs

Do you believe in aliens? Some people believe that aliens have already visited Earth. However, they say that goverments have kept this a secret. Governments do not want people do know about aliens, they say.

Last month, a secret file was made public in Great Britain. The file was created over 30 years ago during the Cold War. The file talked about an incident with an Unidentified Flying Object, or UFO. Two U.S. fighter planes were flying over England at night when they met a UFO. The object was huge. It was as big as na aircraft carrier. It was floating in the air. But it was hard to see the UFO clearly.

The pilots were ordered to shoot down the UFO. The pilot got ready to fire 24 missiles at the object. Then suddenly, the object flew away at great speed. The pilot said that the object flew at more than 12,000 kilometers per hour. Then it disappeared.

One of the pilots was Milton Torres. Torres is not 77 years old. He said a U.S. secret agent told him not to talk about the incident. So Torres kept silent for more than 30 years. Now, he is allowed to talk about it. "It was the strangest experience in my life," he said.

The secret file contained other incidents with UFOs. In the file, there were dozens of UFO sightings.

* Think & Talk!

1. Do you believe in alien or UFO? And why?

2. Do you think governments try to conceal the secret of UFO?

THE CAT AND THE MICE

There was once a house that was overrun with Mice. A Cat heard of this, and said to herself, "That's the place for me," and off she went and took up her quarters in the house, and caught the Mice one by one and ate them. At last the Mice could stand it no longer, and they determined to take to their holes and stay there. "That's awkward," said the Cat to herself: "the only thing to do is to coax them out by a trick." So she considered a while, and then climbed up the wall and let herself hang down by her hind legs from a peg, and pretended to be dead. By and by a Mouse peeped out and saw the Cat hanging there.

"Aha!" it cried, "you're very clever, madam, no doubt: but you may turn yourself into a bag of meal hanging there, if you like, yet you won't catch us coming anywhere near you."

* Think & Talk!

Q : What is the lesson we can get from the above fable?

A : _____________________________________________

THE OLD WOMAN AND THE DOCTOR

An Old Woman became almost totally blind from a disease of the eyes, and, after consulting a Doctor, made an agreement with him in the presence of witnesses that she should pay him a high fee if he cured her, while if he failed he was to receive nothing. The Doctor accordingly prescribed a course of treatment, and every time he paid her a visit he took away with him some article out of the house, until at last, when he visited her for the last time, and the cure was complete, there was nothing left. When the Old Woman saw that the house was empty she refused to pay him his fee; and, after repeated refusals on her part, he sued her before the *magistrates for payment

of her debt. On being brought into court she was ready with her defence. "The *claimant," said she, "has stated the facts about our agreement correctly. I undertook to pay him a fee if he cured me, and

he, on his part, promised to charge nothing if he failed. Now, he says I am cured; but I say that I am blinder than ever, and I can prove what I say. When my eyes were bad I could at any rate see well enough to be aware that my house contained a certain amount of furniture and other things; but now, when according to him I am cured, I am entirely unable to see anything there at all."

*magistrates:치안 판사, 하급 판사   *claimant:원고 (claimer)

* Think & Talk!

Q : What is the lesson we can get from the above fable?

A : _____________________________________________

THE LION AND THE MOUSE

A Lion asleep in his *lair was waked up by a Mouse running over his face. Losing his temper he seized it with his paw and was about to kill it. The Mouse, terrified, piteously entreated him to spare its life. "Please let me go," it cried, "and one day I will repay you for your kindness." The idea of so insignificant a creature ever being able to do anything for him amused the Lion so much that he laughed aloud, and good-humouredly let it go. But the Mouse's chance came, after all. One day the Lion got entangled in a net which had been spread for game by some hunters, and the Mouse heard and recognised his roars of anger and ran to the spot. Without more *ado it set to work to *gnaw the ropes with its teeth, and succeeded before long in setting the Lion free. "There!" said the Mouse, "you laughed at me when I promised I would repay you: but now you see, even a Mouse can help a Lion."

*lair:집    *ado:소동   *gnaw: 물어 끊다[뜯다], 갉아먹다

* Think & Talk!

Q : What is the lesson we can get from the above fable?

A : _____________________________________________

THE NORTH WIND AND THE SUN

A dispute arose between the North Wind and the Sun, each claiming

that he was stronger than the other. At last they agreed to try their

powers upon a traveller, to see which could soonest strip him of his

cloak. The North Wind had the first try; and, gathering up all his

force for the attack, he came whirling furiously down upon the man,

and caught up his cloak as though he would *wrest it from him by one

single effort: but the harder he blew, the more closely the man

wrapped it round himself. Then came the turn of the Sun. At first he

beamed gently upon the traveller, who soon unclasped his cloak and

walked on with it hanging loosely about his shoulders: then he shone

forth in his full strength, and the man, before he had gone many

steps, was glad to throw his cloak right off and complete his journey

more lightly clad.

*wrest:억지로 얻어내다

* Think & Talk!

Q : What is the lesson we can get from the above fable?

A : _____________________________________________

(example: Persuasion is better than force)

Not everything that is learned is contained in books

Person A

People can read about many different things. They can learn about many different subjects. So books are important. However, I think knowledge gained from experience is more important. When you do something, you will have a deeper knowledge. You will remember the experience. So you won't forget the knowledge easily.

Person B

Experience is, of course, very important. But it is less important than reading books. Experience is very limited. There are only a few things you can experience in real life.

So knowledge from experience is also limited. On the other hand, books can give you much more knowledge. They can give you knowledge from both the past and the present. Therefore, knowledge gained fro books is more valuable.

* Choose one side from the two opinions below and give your reasons.

Your Opinion: ___

Your reasons: ① _____________________________________.

② ________________________________________________.

Internet Anonymity

Person A

I think anonymous posts on the Internet should be banned. Too many people post false and hurtful messages. These types of posts will stop if people have to use their real name. Internet users need to learn that it is reckless to write lies about people. Banning anonymous posts would force these people to think twice before spreading rumors.

Person B

I think it's OK to post anonymous messages on the Internet. Everyone has the right to express their opinion about a topic. They should not be afraid to speak their mind or be censored by the government. Instead of regulating the Internet, people should use some common sense and realize that rumors aren't always true.

* Choose one side from the two opinions below and give your reasons.

Your Opinion: ___

Your reasons: ① _____________________________________.

② ________________________________________________.

Security Cameras in Schools

Person A

I think school officials are trying to make schools safer. But security cameras and CCTV systems are not the way to do it. School is supposed to be a comfortable place for people to learn in. Security cameras make students feel like no one trusts them and assume that everyone is a criminal. Also, CCTV systems are expensive and most students don't think they help prevent crime.

Person B

Security cameras are an effective way to fight crime in schools. Crime is getting worse in school zones, so it makes sense to install CCTV systems at schools. Teachers can't deal with thefts and teach classes at the same time. Students will also feel safer because they will know that most crimes will be caught on tape. Cameras will help prevent kidnappings in school zones, too.

* Choose one side from the two opinions below and give your reasons.

Your Opinion: ___

Your reasons: ① _____________________________________.

② ________________________________________________.

Boycott Campaign of Newspaper Advertisers Deemed Illegal

Person A

I think it is totally fine to boycott companies. Companies need consumers to buy their products. So when people refuse to buy a product, the company will listen. Also, boycotts are a nonviolent way to protest about an issue. Demonstrations in downtown Seoul often become violent and people get hurt. Boycotts are a great way to express an opinion without hurting anyone.

Person B

I think boycotts against companies are bad. People may think that boycotting a company will send a strong message, but they are wrong. Boycotts hurt the economy and make people lose their jobs. There are better ways for people to express their opinions. Regular citizens will not notice a boycott. Protestors should hold public demonstrations if they want people to hear about their campaign.

* Choose one side from the two opinions below and give your reasons.

Your Opinion: ___

Your reasons: ① _____________________________________.

② ________________________________________________.

Making Story

example :

Read the above cartoon and write the last dialogue freely.

______________________________________________

(example : 'cause we're gonna apply for a huge government bailout!)

*bailout 기업구제

Video Game Criticized for Violent Content

Person A

I think violent video games are very harmful and should be banned. Games like "Grand Theft Auto" are full of graphic violence and mature content. Players are rewarded for hurting other people, and that sends a terrible message to kids. These types of games aren't supposed to be sold to kids, but it is really hard to keep them from getting them. Plus, kids who play a lot of mature-rated games are more aggressive and violent. It is clear that violent games are bad for society and should definitely be banned.

Person B

I think mature-rated video games are lots of fun. Of course, I don't want kids to play these games, but that is why they are not sold to kids. Adults, however, should be able to play violent video games for entertainment. Players know that video games are like being in a virtual world. None of the violence is real. People know that they shouldn't do the same things in real life as they do in video games. It isn't fair to ban video games just because kids are playing them illegally.

* Choose one side from the two opinions below and give your reasons.

Your Opinion: ___

Your reasons: ① _____________________________________.

② ________________________________________________.

"Truth" vs. "Facts"

While the words "truth" and "facts" may seem to be the same, they are not. What is the "truth" is not always what would be called "facts." The opposite is true, as well. The reason is, what factually happened can be used to tell what in essence is a lie.

This is similar to the difference between the "content" and "context" of a word´s meaning. Thus, someone can tell you something that is factually correct, but not "truthful." The word in English for this is called "disingenuous."

What is important is that you tell both the "truth" and the "facts." You have to be careful that you are honest to those around you. One of the most important things in this world is "trust." Only by being genuine can you develop a sense of trust among those you know and love.

Q: What is the main idea of the above article?

A: ________________________________________

Harry Potter and the Order

of the Phoenix

Another Harry Potter movie has been released! "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" is the fifth fantasy adventure film in the series based on J.K. Rowling´s novels.

In the movie, Harry Potter enters his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry´s school life is not easy. The wizarding community shuns him because he claims that Lord Voldemort is back. Also, a horrible new professor hates him.

More than anything else, the young magician struggles with his emotions and identity. Harry experiences his first romance and faces his true identity issue. "The key things of this film are really about identity, about discovering who you are as a person," said director David Yates.

Q: Who's novel is the Harry Potter movie based on?

A: _______________________________

Q: What year does Harry Potter enter at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?

A: _______________________________

Transformers

"Transformers," a new film produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Michael Bay is drawing lots of people to local movie theaters. Since its release on June 28, more than 2 million people watched the film in five days. More than 5 million to 6 million audiences are expected to enjoy this new blockbuster film.

This is a science-fiction film based on a popular American comic book and TV cartoon series of 1980s. It is about "Autobots," the human-friendly robots that live on earth in the form of automobiles. The "Autobots" fight against the evil "Decepticons" to save the planet earth.

Automobiles and aerial vehicles transform into robots in the movie. The battle scenes among robots were done by updated computer graphic technologies. Not only children but also adults who loved robots when they were young, are amazed by the scale of action and splendid visual effects of the film. Even orders for "Transformers" toys have dramatically increased owing to the success of the film.

Q: When did the movie "Transformers" release?

A: _____________________________

Q: What do Automobiles and aerial vehicles transform into?

A: ______________________________